CHRIS STEVENSON, QMI Agency

UFA, RUSSIA - In another time, in what would have been close to about halfway around the world, Mark Scheifele and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins would probably have been playing against each other Wednesday.

Instead, the pair were united on Team Canada’s top line - along with Jonathan Huberdeau – and the trio produced nine points in Canada’s 9-3 victory over Germany in their opening game of the world junior championship.

One of the good things about the NHL lockout is it has afforded Nugent-Hopkins and Scheifele another shot at a gold medal and, yes it was “just” the Germans, but the pair got Canada’s offence off to a good start.